Q&A

Friday 16 July 2004 19.01 EDT
First published on Friday 16 July 2004 19.01 EDT

Sir Trevor Nunn, 64, was born in Ipswich and educated at Cambridge university. In 1964, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, and four years later became its youngest ever artistic director. He was director of the National Theatre from 1997 to 2003. Last year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Director's Guild of Great Britain. His latest production of Hamlet is currently running at the Old Vic, and stars his wife, Imogen Stubbs. He lives in London.

With which historical figure do you most identify? William Shakespeare, whose humanism is a beacon and a guide.

Which living person do you most admire, and why? Helen Suzman, who had the astonishing courage to preserve the concept of democracy in apartheid South Africa.

What is your greatest extravagance? Taking London taxis, which are currently under threat from Ken Livingstone, when he should be promoting them as one of the city's greatest assets.

What is your favourite journey? Walking across Waterloo Bridge - it reminds me I live in one of the greatest cities in the world.

What is your favourite word? 'Detail'.

What is your favourite book? Middlemarch.

How did you vote in the last election? Labour.

How will you vote in the next election? Labour.

Should the royal family be scrapped? Of course not.

For what cause would you die? If my death could rid the world of all religious fanatics, I wouldn't think twice.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Imogen Stubbs, beating Ipswich Town FC by a short head.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? In our world, cynicism is celebrated as a virtue, which is why our world is so deformed.

Have you ever said 'I love you' and not meant it? No. Surely you know that luvvies mean it every time?

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? That you must say to yourself, when the good things happen, 'This is as good as it gets.' A life lived as a perpetual introduction to something that will be better is a life of disappointment.